The Real Life RD

helping you find peace with food and your natural body size

  • the RD & NP
  • Online Courses
  • Women’s Wellness
  • Speaking
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Life, Thoughts

October Coffee Date

October 30, 2019 By Robyn 18 Comments

I wasn’t planning on writing a post this week because we are moving Friday and I’m speaking on Monday in Atlanta at            Chick-Fil-A so it’s very likely the fullest week I’ve had in a really, really long time…but I felt like I wanted to put some words out into the internet this morning so here we are.

It’s 6:29am on Tuesday morning and my apartment looks like it’s been ransacked. There is stuff everywhere. So I’m hiding out in our room because it’s the corner of our tiny apartment with the least amount of chaos typing away while laying in our bed. I’m someone who cannot function in clutter and mess, but this week (and for the next few weeks) this is reality. Cheers!

Packing up for this move feels easier than it did when we moved from New York to Boston even though we now have a baby. Even though we went from a one bedroom in NYC to a 2 bedroom here in Boston, this apartment is actually smaller and we’ve had a baby (which = more stuff) and so I’ve had to tightly manage what stuff comes into our apartment. Because of that, it just feels like overall we have less things? Maybe I’m hallucinating…

Because baby sleep over here is imploding. Like….he’s almost 11 months, but I actually have a newborn again and we are waking 2-3 (sometimes 4x) a night and on a good night he only nurses once and most nights we end up co-sleeping by 1 or 2am because I’m straight up tired. And then I’m like, “co-sleeping is the best ever!” while at the same time thinking, “this isn’t sustainable!” because I need a few moments in the morning to myself before he wakes for my sanity and right now that isn’t happening with us in the same bed. So, because I feel like the parenting equivalent to, “what do you do for a living?” is …”how is he sleeping?” that’s my response. I’m up more now that I was at 6 weeks and I’m convinced that the idea of babies consistently sleeping through the night by ____ months old is just a myth and babies will sleep through the night when they do. So, I’m throwing in the towel on trying to figure out this mystery and instead just going to pour another cup of coffee and roll with it. Caffeine, bless.

I walked into the shower with my AirPods still in yesterday. So there’s that.

I’m almost done with all the credentialing paperwork for my new job and that feels like a huge win because I’m not sure I can fill out one more form or call up Medicare one more time. And I’m feeling really excited to return to more regular NP work versus the per diem work I’ve been doing since Cal was born. The NPWH conference was really affirming for me that yes, I love this work and I’m ready to work outside the home a couple days a week. Feeling that affirmation has helped settle my nerves about leaving Cal.

If you’re moving or will ever move in the future…I was googling “how to making moving easier” because that’s what I google when trying to simplify my life…? and came across a tip that said to color code your boxes with colored tape and then put a piece of tape on the door frame or entryway of each room so the movers know exactly where to take each box. I thought it was genius!

I made this chicken chili in the instant pot last week and it was quite possibly one of the easiest recipes ever. When instant pot or slow cooker recipes require 20 minutes of chopping vegetables, I no longer consider that a quick & easy recipe. But this one only requires you to chop one onion and then you just dump in the remaining ingredients.

We walked up and down the streets of Beacon Hill on Saturday since it was a gorgeous fall day and every time I’m in that neighborhood I cannot get over the historical charm. I also think we are leaving Boston at worst time because fall here is pure magic.

Alright, it’s 6:56 now and I’m going to go pour a second cup of coffee, eat some breakfast and do something with the bags under my eyes. Share bits of your reality in the comments!


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...

  • 5 Thoughts [an announcement + fertility encouragement]5 Thoughts [an announcement + fertility encouragement]
  • September Coffee DateSeptember Coffee Date
  • Using Quotes to Live a Better LifeUsing Quotes to Live a Better Life
  • 5 Thoughts [Including a pep talk video and a what I’m making for Thanksgiving]5 Thoughts [Including a pep talk video and a what I’m making for Thanksgiving]

Filed Under: Life, Thoughts

« Intuitive Eating – A Week of Thoughts & Eats
November Newsletter »

Comments

  1. Moni says

    October 30, 2019 at 6:29 am

    Hey there Robyn and Robyn-followers…
    I just wanted to say how much I love your blog and appreciate the insight you give us into your life.
    I was wondering if you follow any blogs on the internet (not facebook or instagram but real old school blogs) that you can recommend. I love reading about your life, your thoughts, intuitive eating… anything really that is relatable to women trying to be strong, loving and not afraid to show the good and messy.
    Maybe someone knows something 🙂

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 1, 2019 at 9:04 am

      I love Robyn’s blog! I also really love CarrotsnCake by Tina Haupert and HB Unfiltered by Heather Bergeron!

      Reply
    • Aleisha says

      November 1, 2019 at 5:22 pm

      Peanut butter runner or peanut butter fingers are great to follow! Peanut butter runner has more eating and day in the life/weekly expertise posts
      I find carrots n cake too heavily sponsored for my personal liking.

      Reply
    • Susanne says

      December 22, 2019 at 3:15 pm

      I there! I don’t mean to seem too self obsessed but I’m trying to run a quite old school blog about my life after moving to Ireland. Feel free to visit if you want!

      Reply
  2. Kristin says

    October 30, 2019 at 8:34 am

    Around 11-12 months, my baby was also getting up 2-4 times a night and I couldn’t believe that was my life. He never, before that, slept through the night, but it hadn’t been THAT bad.
    At 12.5 months, I did old-fashioned cry-it-out and it worked in 2 days. There’s a lot to be said for that method!
    Good luck with the move! We’ve done…7? of them and I know it’s a lot.

    Reply
  3. Holly says

    October 30, 2019 at 11:13 am

    I’m RIGHT there with you. My son turned one last week and the past two months have been the worst sleep of his life (and mine…). It’s rough. It’s got to end sometime right??? Good luck with the move. And I agree Boston is incredible this time of year!

    Reply
  4. Susie B says

    October 30, 2019 at 1:44 pm

    I feel you. My daughter will be 8 months on Friday and we somehow went from her sleeping from 8p-5a without nursing to her waking up 2-3x a night. I am a ZOMBIE. And I’m convinced that trying to figure out baby sleep issues (aka googling) just makes it even worse, haha

    Reply
  5. Kris says

    October 30, 2019 at 1:54 pm

    I’m sure you’ve already had this mentioned, but Taking Cara Babies is an amazing resource about baby sleep and her blog/Insta/programs helped us immensely! Good luck mama. Those wake ups are TOUGH

    Reply
  6. Allison M Seybold says

    October 30, 2019 at 2:22 pm

    Hey Robyn! I love catching up on your coffee conversation posts, and your Daily Eats are great inspiration for me! I’m a stay-at-home mom to two boys, one is two and a half and one is 6 months old. The two-and-a-half-year-old is finally into a great sleeping and napping pattern but the six month old is all over the place… hang in there! And, Good luck with the move!

    Reply
  7. Katelyn says

    October 30, 2019 at 4:27 pm

    Hey Robyn!! Have you considered hiring a sleep consultant? I’m sure you’ve had that suggested to you before, but we did and it was the best money we ever spent – with hardly any crying! I went from being up 4+ times per night to one night time feed and it’s been so good not only for my little guy, but for me to feel more rested too! I highly recommend if you can. It’s a bit of a financial investment, but honestly, what is your sanity and health worth? That’s how I justified it 🙂

    Reply
  8. Cari says

    October 30, 2019 at 6:00 pm

    I love reading your posts because they always resonate with exactly what I’m going through! You literally take the words right out of my mouth. My daughter just turned 6 mo and her sleep is the worst it has ever been. I don’t want to scare you, but she went from 1-2x a night to 4-6x after we moved a month ago. They know! Last night was our worst, yet. I think the only sleep I got was when I co-slept on accident. She was up EVERY hour. I finally broke down and purchased the Taking Cara Babies course, even though I’m totally not game for crying it out. Her method seems to be very, very gentle and loving (and I’m all for that). Anyways, something to think about! Just know, you’re definitely not the only mama up during those wee hours in the night. 🙂 It truly is the newborn stage all over again, maybe even worse!

    Reply
  9. Andrea says

    October 30, 2019 at 8:42 pm

    Two words … sleep consultant! It felt silly at the time but turned out to be the best money I ever spent. Baby sleep is SO CONFUSING and with all the conflicting info out there sometimes it just helps to have someone tell you exactly what to do. Coming from the mother of a child who was up 5-6x a night, after working with a sleep consultant she has been an incredible sleeper for the last 3 years!! She falls asleep on her own in her own bed and wakes up 10-12 hours later – through sleep training we taught her an invaluable skill that has been so essential to our sanity as parents. 🙂

    Reply
  10. Carley says

    October 30, 2019 at 8:59 pm

    Oh bless you! My daughter didn’t sleep through the night until she was 14 months (she’s 19 months now) so I feel you! I finally caved and turns out she would only cry for like a minute or two as she was switching between sleep cycles 🤦🏼‍♀️ If only I had known it’d be that easy. I can tell you it does get better and you will feel human again and not feel like you’re just fragments of yourself. As far as working, in my opinion working a day or two has been recharging and makes me a better mama.

    Reply
  11. Rachel says

    October 31, 2019 at 5:35 am

    Whoa, I can relate! I don’t have a baby, but I’m moving out of home for the first time, from our little city (Canberra) to Sydney. I’ll be living on my own for the first time, and starting my first full-time job and I honestly don’t know whether I’m standing on my head or my heels. The last few weeks have been utter chaos, trying to find accommodation (a share house for me!), get all my stuff together, buy furniture and tie up loose ends here before I go. I leave tomorrow and start work on Monday so my reality is swinging between zombie-like confusion and epic stress, all while feeling guilty for letting these last few days with my parents and without a 9-5 job slip by. So I guess I’m just saying I feel you, and I’m sending all my best wishes and prayers your way!

    Reply
  12. Megan says

    November 1, 2019 at 2:01 pm

    Good luck with the move!!! Also you are making me want an instant pot 🙂

    Reply
  13. Aga says

    November 2, 2019 at 11:13 am

    I cannot believe I’ve just found your site. It’s perfect! Thank you for every post, I can’t stop reading!

    Reply
  14. Ashley says

    November 10, 2019 at 12:29 pm

    With my 14 month old I have just determined that EVERYTHING related to sleep is a 2-3 week phase. Sleeping well? Don’t count on it lasting longer than 3 weeks. Horrible sleep? 3 weeks before that changes. Between teething, colds, stuffy noses, and just toddler weirdness, there is no constant for us with sleep. That’s okay…that’s why God gave moms coffee!

    Reply
  15. Susanne says

    December 22, 2019 at 3:21 pm

    Oh, the thing about moving. I hope I won’t have to do it in a while or that we’ll have our stuff enough organised so that it’ll be easier. We moved abroad about a year ago and gosh, how stressful. We had black or white tapes on our boxes, because we were moving some of them to our rental house and some to a storage unit. That was extremely helpful, actually.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

A non-diet dietitian and nurse practitioner helping women find peace with food, accept their natural body size and heal from hormonal issues and period problems.

More On Lady Hormones

How Birth Control Methods Affect Your Hormones, Period and Fertility

What Your Cervical Fluid Can Tell You About Your Reproductive Health

women's reproductive health

Women’s Reproductive Health 101

I have yet to experience postpartum myself, but I've had many clients and readers that have been through that season of life. Or perhaps you are currently living through the postpartum period. Every woman's body is different, therefore every woman's experience after giving birth will be different. What works for one woman, might not work for the next. While one woman might go through postpartum and adjust to newborn life quiet seamlessly, another woman might find it much more difficult. She might need the support of medication, therapy, extra help and many other things. One way is not better than the other - they are simply two different ways of navigating the postpartum period. I hope this post helps you better care for yourself, whatever that means for you. There's no right or wrong way to care for yourself as a mom or your new baby.

Postpartum Hormones: what’s happening in your body and how to care for yourself

* indicates required

Categories

Get in Touch!

Follow Me!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

I talk a lot about moving, eating, and living intuitively so you can be well hormonally and live a fulfilling life in line with your values

The Real Life RD on Pinterest

Follow Me on Pinterest
A little way I’m learning to enjoy these years o A little way I’m learning to enjoy these years of getting to spend so much time with my kids: aka another way I’m discovering some pockets of peace so my heart & mind & soul don’t crumble under the reality of dependent & emotionally dysregulated tiny humans.  About once a week we go somewhere for baked goods. We drive or walk, buy something buttery & then find a beautiful, relatively quiet outdoor spot where the boys can romp and I can sit and think my thoughts while I watch them play. This past week we were found ourselves at the Wool Factory where the boys threw rocks & whatever else off the bridge while I ate 90% of this almond 🥐 from @coucourachou that will blow your mind. Boys ate the other 10% bc they were busy playing and didn’t ask for more quickly enough 😜  I’m finding *for me* playgrounds have a time & place but they aren’t where I enjoy motherhood & my two toddlers the most. Baked goods & a pretty outdoor spot without high drops my 15 month old could launch himself off of…I’m here for it.
I brought this bag of snacks along when I took the I brought this bag of snacks along when I took the boys to hike out at one of our favorite spots last week and when I ripped it open I was regretting my choice to share them with my kids. @baresnacks randomly sent me a box of snacks and I usually eat free food we receive or give it to a friend/neighbor and move on. But I felt it my duty to tell you about these bc they are THAT GOOD. I’m not getting paid and this isn’t sponsored - I was just shocked at how tasty these were and felt you needed to know. We ate them with some buttery roasted nuts and the combo was 👌🏻 but they are good just on their own.  The boys climbed rocks and swam in the reservoir - leave it to my almost 3 year old to want to strip down naked and fully submerge himself in chilly water on a sixty degree morning. “Mama can I get super nakey?” Sure baby. Sure. This is your childhood.
It’s a hard sell to get me to accept an offer of It’s a hard sell to get me to accept an offer of extended alone time away from the babies to just be. And that isn’t something that’s best for me, it’s an area I gotta grow in. So this afternoon when Nick pushed me out the door and was like - get out of here plzzzz - I walked to my favorite cafe and ordered a thick pastrami sandwich and sat there for a good LONG while before taking a long, peaceful walk in the rain to wrap up the afternoon. Note to self: stop being such a control freak and go be by yourself sometimes.
a girlfriend brought me a 🍪 the size of my face a girlfriend brought me a 🍪 the size of my face from @mariebettecafe this morning when she came to get her toddler who played with us all morning and it is v good. even better when paired with an iced latte 😍
#AlignPartner I left off a few weeks ago sharing a #AlignPartner I left off a few weeks ago sharing about how taking @alignprobiotic regularly has improved my digestive regularity.  And I’m still taking them! I’ve permanently added Align 24/7 Digestive Support* into the roundup of supplements I take before bed (prenatal, vitamin D, choline & DHA - all which help keep me healthy while breastfeeding) so I can keep seeing the benefits.  Just because you see benefits, doesn’t mean you should stop taking your probiotic. Keep taking Align daily (under the supervision and recommendation of your health care provider of course) to keep seeing the benefits!  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - one of my favorite parts of Align probiotics is that they don’t need refrigeration AND they come in a convenient little blister pack that has the days labeled. It’s the little things people! #MyAlignGuutJourney #guthealth  *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
I realized it was going to be a long, hot afternoo I realized it was going to be a long, hot afternoon (91 and muggy in MAY 🤯) when a toddler nap was refused and a baby nap was cut wildly short ....so my tired mom brain pulled out two plastic storage bins, filled them up with soap & hose water and striped ‘em down naked in the yard. Two hours later, it was almost time for an early dinner and I had magically been able to sit for most of that time and we already had baths checked off the list. 👍🏻 I’m archiving this idea for my future self, hope it helps another tired mama out.
#AlignPartner I left off a month ago sharing about #AlignPartner I left off a month ago sharing about getting better at doing the basics to care for myself which included taking my supplements and @alignprobiotic regularly.  Probiotics take time to work so I wanted to give it a full month to see the full effects of @alignprobiotic. So here are my honest thoughts: it took a few weeks to notice any differences, but near the end of the month I did notice some changes in my digestive balance - even while traveling! I’m not someone who experiences occasional gas, bloating or abdominal discomfort frequently enough to notice a difference, so I don’t feel like I can comment on how well Align works for those benefits.  All in all though, taking @alignprobiotic was a positive experience and I really appreciated how the capsules don’t need to be stored in the fridge, making it convenient to take them with me anywhere #MyAlignGuutJourney #guthealth  *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Where we will spend a good majority of our summer. Where we will spend a good majority of our summer. Because the swampy VA summer has already begun (it’s in the low 90s today 🥵 lord help) and creeks are our retreat - not only from the heat but also from the noisy world. I need this just (if not more) than they do! We’ll be at the splash pads and pools too, but the quietness of the creek...my mental health is so about it. And it’s hours of play for them! Win win.  A couple things to note: this scene also included a few toddler reminders on finding another direction to throw rocks instead of at his brother - so not all is serene 🤪 and also, yes I am now that mom who buys the same clothing for both kids bc it keeps things simple & i think i kinda like it too 🤷🏻‍♀️
Things I love about midwifery among many: the appo Things I love about midwifery among many: the appointments, no matter how long, feel so unhurried. 
Just walked in from an appointment with my midwife because I was due for a Pap test + an overall wellness visit. My last pap was during my first trimester with Cal which feels like a jillion years ago, but it’s only actually been three years. Life changes so fast! Pre-baby life feels like a whole other life.  I’m wayyyy overdue for a visit to my PCP bc I’ve been under OBGYN or midwifery care for the majority of the past three years while having babies, but I am pretty good with keeping up with my paps. It seems women often think they need pap and/or HPV testing way more frequently than they do (and providers sometimes perform these tests more frequently than necessary - remember more testing doesn’t always mean better outcomes!)  So if you need it, here’s a quick little reminder on this chilly spring Friday afternoon on how often you need this testing (these are the recommendations from ACOG)  Women aged 21–29 years should have a Pap test alone every 3 years. HPV testing is not recommended.  Women aged 30–65 years should have a Pap test and an HPV test (aka co-testing) every 5 years (preferred). It also is acceptable to have a Pap test alone every 3 years.  If you get abnormal results, this testing frequency could change - but for healthy women with normal results, you actually don’t need testing as frequently as you might think. Which is great news for those of you who hate the speculum.  Ok, off to finish up some things on the to-do list (including cleaning this kitchen) during nap time and then come 5 o’clock, crack an IPA with our neighbors 🍻
#AlignPartner Over the past seven months since bec #AlignPartner Over the past seven months since becoming a mom of two, caring for myself has gotten shoved to the back burner. And it's been a challenge to make it a priority. My routine-resistant personality has upsides and downsides when it comes to motherhood. So I'm starting small this year with a consistent bedtime routine that includes taking my supplements and @alignprobiotic and hoping as that becomes consistent, my mornings will naturally shift too.  In short my bedtime currently goes like this….jammies & face care when putting the babies to bed. Before I go to bed (anytime between 9pm and 12am...) I’ll pump, take my supplements and fill my water. Then I go upstairs and brush my teeth. And then get in bed. The kicker: 70% of the time I find myself finishing up tasks on my phone IN BED. I hate this habit.  Back to supplements. This is something I have been able to stick with. On top of fish oil, my prenatal, choline and vitamin D, I recently added @AlignProbiotic 24/7 Digestive Support*§ to see if it helps with abdominal discomfort and regularity because when I don’t drink coffee or am traveling that can get thrown off.  I’ll be taking it every day for the next 28 days since it takes TIME for our bodies to adjust to probiotics - and I'll be taking you guys along with me as I share my honest thoughts. Many people think if they don’t see changes within the first 7-10 days then the probiotic isn’t working, but that’s not the case. I’m giving myself more than just a week or two and instead a full month to see the full benefits. I’ll keep you posted over the next month. Check out my stories to learn more! #MyAlignGutJourney #guthealth
 
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
We had an AFTERNOON today. Toddler didn’t care f We had an AFTERNOON today. Toddler didn’t care for a nap. Putting baby down was harder than I wanted it to be. Miraculously, I had a moment of clarity as I was covered in tiny humans and decided I wasn’t doing the nap battle thing a on 60 degree, gorgeous, sunny spring day 🙅🏻‍♀️ so I piled both babies into the car half naked, opened the sun roof, put on white noise for them and an audio book for me and drank a kombucha as I drove a meal to a postpartum mama. Thirty five minutes later we had a sleeping baby and a toddler who at least had a rest. Baby transferred without waking HALLELUJAH and although my toddler didn’t nap today (lord help) at least we got soaked in breezy sunshine 😎🤘🏻💆🏻‍♀️
We veered from our usual Friday night homemade piz We veered from our usual Friday night homemade pizza (minus the dough, we leave that to @albemarlebakingco) because we are eating pizza tomorrow with some friends - instead I called my mom and asked her how she makes her chicken fingers and we fried up a big ole batch of chicken nugs 🙌🏻🤤 along with a sheet pan full of sweet potato fries and a simple arugula salad dressed with parmesean, olive oil and s&p. Oh and my moms honey mustard recipe for dipping. It’s SO DANG GOOD.  Over the past 6ish months we’ve been practicing (and practicing and practicing bc it doesn’t come naturally) unplugging from technology and slowing down and resting and just being for one day a week. Some call it Shabbat. Some call it Sabbath. Maybe you call it something different. All I know is IT IS SO GOOD FOR MY WEARY SOUL and the day I look forward to ALL WEEK. Sundown on Friday to sundown Saturday. Nothing but rest. For us that means hiking (or something outside) and napping and reading and being with friends and eating really good food. And drinking some really good wine or craft beer. Sometimes whiskey. 😛  And because I know I’ll get asked about the chicken finger recipe and also because it’s too good not to share and Momma Coale said I could, here ya go:  Cut chicken breast into thin strips or small pieces (I prefer nug size bc the breading to chicken ratio is perfection). Salt and pepper those babies really well. Then dredge them in all purpose flour, then egg, then panko - just like you would bread anything else. Then fry them up in a light oil - I use avocado oil because that’s our everyday oil. You could also use canola or peanut oil. Just fill a pan with an inch or so of oil on medium high heat. They only take 2-3 minutes per side. You can always temp them to make sure they are at least 165 degrees F to really make sure they are done. Dunk in all the sauces and enjoy!  Happy weekend!

Copyright © 2023 · The Real RD· Blog Design by Little Blue Deer


Terms and Conditions | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy